“Distracted By Scandal”

When discussing the peccadilloes of American politicians, there’s an old axiom attributed to former (disgraced) Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards that whatever a politician does is excusable “just so long as he’s not caught with a dead girl or a live boy…” Perhaps that may no longer be the case in The Information Age, but Scandal in Washington is once again the buzz. Apparently, a Republican Rep from Florida took a rather unusually friendly interest in some of the male pages who roamed about the Capitol.

While it does not appear that he engaged in any illegal conduct (as had occurred years before with a Massachusetts Demmie who was literally caught in flagrante delicto yet the voters in his district subsequently reelected him for six more terms), his conduct by contacting the pages with sexually explicit e-mails was disgusting and disreputable, necessitating his immediate removal from The People’s House. Fortunately he spared the People, the Congress, his political party and himself by hailing the first available Midnight Express out of DC. Hey, don’t let the door hit you on the way out, slimeball.

Imagine this: your son or daughter receives the distinguished privilege and honor of serving as a Congressional Page. It’s a big deal; appointments such as these were never dished out in my neighborhood, that’s for damn sure. Anyhow, your child reveals to you that an esteemed elected Member of the House has been sending your kid rather risqué e-mails (are you getting squeamish yet?), then asks if he or she would kindly upload a photo. What’s your first reaction (after revulsion)? OK, other than kneecappin’ the schmuck. Wouldn’t it be appropriate to notify the proper authorities and get the matter addressed forthwith (like, right now) so this pantload won’t try to harm somebody else’s kid?

As a parent and a taxpayer, wouldn’t it be prudent to first address the care and safety of our children first, flush the turd second, and assess the political fallout third? That seems to make good sense.

But in America, there is nothing above politics, not even the welfare of our children entrusted to the care of The Guardians of The Capitol. The Democratic leaders (self-righteous hypocrites) proclaimed their shock and dismay that the Republic leadership (as useless as mammaries on a bull) held back the revelation of the “salacious details” from the full House. On the surface, there appears to be legitimacy to their outrage. But there’s a problem: in the weeks leading up to the “shocking” news, the Federal Election Commission recently reported that rather large blocks of cash were being funneled into the Democratic challenger’s war chest. Apparently, one of the Clintons’ pit bulls (D-IL) had a large hand in coordinating the cash flow.

An issue properly first considered within the purview of law enforcement has been politicized. Where were the Capitol Police? Why were they not immediately notified by the boy’s family that a sexual predator was stalking the Halls of Congress? How was this creep allowed to indulge his pathetic fantasies for so long? Why were the revelations brought to light only one month before the midterm elections? Scummy politics, that’s how and why.

When political games played on both sides of the aisle take precedence over stopping a sexual predator of teenagers, then we are in serious trouble, fellow Americans. The timing of the revelations stinks to high heavens. The Republicans’ repudiation of the pedophile is far too late. The Democrats’ indignation is disingenuous after one follows the money trail.

Political control is #1 on the agenda, not the People’s Business, or apparently the safety and well being of Congressional Pages. We deserve better than this, folks. Then again, it’s true that we get what we deserve. Maybe people should consider that we’re Americans first - before choosing sides in this War of the Roses divided among political affiliations. I may not be the sharpest knife in the silverware drawer, but I still have a few marbles rolling around in the back of my head. What I’m suggesting folks, is that we have people (Left and Right) representing us who are primarily focused on personal power than fulfilling their obligations under the Constitution, and that frightens the daylights out of me. I don’t know about you.

While the spinmeisters go ‘round and ‘round, nothing gets accomplished. What about meaningful immigration reform? Where is the leadership? They’re too busy pandering for votes! Where are the Democrats on preventing more and more jobs from going to Bangdoon or some other Godforsaken port? They’re too busy calling out the majority, yet nada of substance or reform is placed into the ol’ “marketplace of ideas” for public consumption. Democrat and Republican alike regard the voting public as contemptible stooges.

Look, if you’re more concerned with Paris Hilton or “Jeopardy!”, that’s your business. I enjoy various pursuits just like anyone else. However, I am alarmed by politicians who seek power by dividing rather than uniting. Coming into the midterms, the slate of candidates are largely polarizing personalities. Nowadays, the only campaign strategy being employed is, “Vote For Me, I’m Not Like The Other Guy.” It’s up to ordinary folks like you and me to demand better than blaming the incumbent. We already know what and who you’re against, who are you and what do you stand for? Political discourse has not been this ugly since Nixon unceremoniously exited stage left. How have we allowed things to get like this? It used to be that negative campaign ads were the sign of a desperately insecure campaign, now it’s the “gold standard”. Maybe that’s why everyone but political junkies are increasingly tuning out, distancing themselves from the whole sordid process.

I’m not ready to throw in the towel just yet. I hope and believe that America’s greatness did not fade at the end of the 20th Century. I won’t abandon this hope for my children, or in loving memory of all those who sacrificed to keep the flame alive. Please, I implore you; don’t be played by those agenda-driven fear mongering chumps in the media or the charlatans they promote. It has been our great fortune to be participants in the Great American Experiment. For all its faults, people are still knockin’ down the walls to get in.

Wendell Phillips, (1811-1884) said, “Vigiliance is the eternal price of liberty.” Vigilance is not a passive, but dynamic state of being.

Vigilance demands that a society not take its founding precepts for granted, but to actively promote and protect them. Debate and dissent are also wonderful hallmarks of being American. But it has not been “politics as usual” for a long time now. Rivalry has developed into enmity. It used to be that Americans supported their candidate and accepted the results because the constitutional value of the office was of greater significance than the temporary holder. Politicians come and go, Long Live the Constitution! If we’re too preoccupied with fighting petty partisan games among ourselves, we may one day discover that the America we took for granted will have been ransacked or hijacked by some totalitarian ideology years down the line; and there will no longer be an American Dream for our children and grandchildren.

"It is not the function of our government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error."

-- U.S. Supreme Court in American Communications Association v. Douds 339 U.S. 382 (1950)